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Police Federation National Detectives Awards

Nick honoured at detective Kelly praised for outstanding

awards ceremony work in child protection

West Midlands DC who has within WMP’s operational learning and A West Midlands detective who works in He added: “Kelly operates at a high level,
transformed the way in which development’s investigative training team child abuse investigation was named as the in an exceptionally busy and dynamic area of
A detectives are trained was presented and is also WMP’s subject matter expert regional winner for the Detective business. Kelly is diligent, industrious,
with the Services to Detectives Award at the (SME) for disclosure. In this time of austerity Recognition Award at the Police Federation conscientious, unflagging, untiring, tireless,
Police Federation National Detectives’ Forum and cuts in resources, it is easy to National Detectives’ Forum ceremony. indefatigable and studious. Kelly continues
(PFNDF) awards. Photograph courtesy of Anderson Photography underestimate staff who do not work DC Kelly Mahon was put forward for the to push the investigative boundaries and she Photograph courtesy of Anderson Photography
Nick Mills spent 23 years as a detective, directly on the front-line and to miss the award by colleague DC Stephen Parkes who leaves a legacy of excellence in her path. Our
17 of which were in homicide – with six value of such a dynamic department that praised her for her outstanding contribution Force vision is preventing crime, protecting
working on the major crime review team shapes the way WMP investigate serious to child protection, saying she was as people and helping those in need. DC
– before moving into training in 2014 and and complex crime.” committed now, more than 10 years after Mahon is the epitome of that vision and our
instigating a new approach to how His vast experience and knowledge in taking on the role, as she was on Day 1. values as an organisation.”
detectives are trained, with an emphasis on investigation, Trudy explained, make Nick “The impact of such emotionally As part of her role, Kelly not only
making it as inclusive as possible. one of the most credible trainers nationally. challenging investigations over such a investigates reported crime but, working in
He is credited with revolutionising the She also credited Nick for making it his period should not be under-estimated. Since partnership with agencies such as children’s
way the Force delivers the Initial Crime mission to improve the knowledge of choosing to specialise in such a key area of services and local schools, she will look to
Investigators’ Development Programme and disclosure and praised him for writing a policing and protecting our most vulnerable help improve the lives of children and their
his ground-breaking work has been bespoke one-day course as well as reviewing in society, she has strived to develop and families to prevent crime being committed.
recognised by the College of Policing. the content for the national disclosure enhance her skills to bring the worst and She is so highly regarded by agencies
Nevertheless, Nick was humbled to have e-learning product completed by the college. most depraved criminals to justice, while working in partnership with the Force that
been put forward for the PFNDF awards and His disclosure training has now hit more offering unwavering support and improving she is personally requested when visits or
says he was just doing his job. than 3,000 members of staff including the lives of endless children,” he wrote. investigations may become challenging. She
“It was really nice to be honoured in this constables, sergeants, inspectors, detectives “While qualifying in this area of policing, also coaches new members to the
way. It’s particularly lovely to receive an and senior ranks as well as other key continuously developing to achieve and department.
award for services to detectives and to be organisations such as the Independent provide a better service, she has detected The Detectives Recognition Award is for
recognised for helping make the lives of new Office for Police Conduct and the National over a hundred offences of this nature detectives who have demonstrated
detectives a little bit better through Crime Agency. including the most serious and callous outstanding commitment, tenacity and
improving the way in which training is DC Nick Mills (right) won the Services In March this year, he won a prestigious sexual offences, against children who would professionalism while conducting DC Kelly Mahon is congratulated by Paul
delivered. I feel very proud,” he says. to Detectives Award at this year’s Police CoP award for professional development know their abuser and should have been investigations. The award recognises the Norgrove of Police Credit Union which
“At the awards, you hear so many stories Federation National Detectives’ Forum recognising his everyday excellence and able to trust them and be protected by work of front-line detectives to bring sponsored the event.
about such incredible and complex awards ceremony. professionalism. them. Her pride in her work drives her to offenders to justice while supporting victims
investigations but I see my role as support, Senior district crown prosecutor Mark deliver the performance she does and allows and communities. celebration of the excellent work detectives
putting the training together and providing some involve a lesson in a lecture theatre Paul, head of the complex casework unit at her colleagues to turn to her for help, advice The winner of this award is voted on by do day-to-day while carrying extensive
new investigators with the best possible but many are practical workshops covering CPS West Midlands, has praised the West and support.” local detective Federation representatives in workloads and other commitments.
start as they move on to deal with such everything from domestic abuse to missing Midlands detective’s work.
critical investigations. persons and from modern slavery to He said: “It was a massive achievement
“It’s really important to make the honour-based killings.” to deliver face-to-face inputs on disclosure ‘I was just doing my job to the best of my ability’
detective role as inclusive as possible but the The PFNDF awards were held as part of a to all WMP investigators and Nick’s
training programme used to be a six-week two-day seminar at the Hilton Birmingham commitment should be recognised. In
course which inevitably precluded many Metropole this week with the work of devising the programme, Nick played a Kelly Mahon has admitted she found it awards ceremony, receiving my award has process in 2009 when she moved to child
officers making it onto the CID. For many detectives across the country recognised by leading role in consulting with the CPS to difficult to get her head around even certainly been a confidence boost as I am protection, sitting her exam the following
officers being at Tally Ho! at 8am five days a their peers. ensure that the input was consistent with being nominated for an award – let alone someone who struggles with my year before completing her training and
week was impossible, partly because of their Nick was nominated for the award by the national joint Disclosure Improvement actually winning. confidence. It has made me feel extremely portfolio in 2013.
personal circumstances such as child care or West Midlands Police Federation workplace Plan. The course is intensely practical “As far as I’m concerned, I’ve just being proud but it’s also made my family so, so The whole of her time as a detective
carer commitments but also operationally. representative Trudy Gittins. engendering a ‘thinking approach’ to doing my job to the best of my ability,” she proud. My Mom was lying on a beach when has been on Child PPU and she says the
Losing staff for six-week periods is difficult She wrote: “DC Nick Mills is quite simply disclosure and encouraging police officers to explains. I received the award and the next day she support of her family helps her cope with
to manage as officer numbers reduce and an outstanding individual who truly work with prosecutors in managing That said, she says as she continues texted me telling me that she had tears of the demands of the role.
demand increases.” embodies both the West Midlands Police disclosure risks from the outset of the her career, she will be more aware of joy in her eyes after seeing the photos.” “I take each day at a time and it
He adds: “When I first became a (WMP) and College of Policing (CoP) core investigation.” rewards and recognition and will ensure Kelly joined the Force in 2002 and only a sounds silly but I set myself a goal each
detective it was a six-week residential course values and those of a detective. I have 24 Detective Chief Superintendent Mark she nominates colleagues for awards too. year later set her sights on specialising in day and try to achieve it. For example, at
which was even less inclusive. Although years’ service as a police officer and have Payne, head of WMP crime, has also “I was nominated by someone who child protection. the moment I am ADS on Child PPU
there is still work to do, we really have worked in many roles within the police commended Nick. recognised all my dedication and hard “We were on a post-foundation course Birmingham which is extremely busy. I
moved on. service. There are a number of people you He explained: “Nick is an exceptional work and took the time to nominate me. and had a talk by a trainer about the have come to realise that I can’t do
“We looked at different and better ways meet in your career who push boundaries officer. He is committed to delivering the With today’s working demands, I think we murder of Victoria Climbie and I couldn’t everything so I set my goals and prioritise
of doing things and we currently run the and achieve results. However, Nick stands highest levels of training to our detectives, sometimes forget just how hard we all believe what I was hearing about the fact them. And I try to have fun, Child
training in eight modules over 25 days, some out from everyone.” so that in turn they can provide the highest work,” Kelly adds. she could have been saved,” she recalls. Protection can be a very sad subject so it’s
modules are three days’ long some are four, She added: “Nick is a leading officer quality investigations to the public.” “I felt like a guest of honour at the Kelly started her trainee investigator important to laugh at work too,” she says.

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